On July 21–22, 2025, UNDP Saudi Arabia organized a two-day online and in-person workshop dedicated to strengthening capacities on Gender Analysis and the use of the Gender Marker. The sessions were facilitated by Shatha Mahmoud, Programme Specialist on Gender and Inclusive Economies. The training brought together more than 40 participants, signaling strong institutional commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in alignment with Vision 2030 and UNDP’s global gender equality strategy.

The first day was dedicated to deepening understanding of Gender Analysis as a critical entry point for integrating gender equality considerations into programming, operations, and policy dialogue. Shatha clarified that gender analysis goes beyond focusing on women; it examines the relationships, roles, and power dynamics between all genders—women, men, girls, and boys—highlighting systemic inequalities that shape access to resources and opportunities. Participants explored how social norms, biases, and stereotypes affect outcomes in sectors such as economic empowerment, urban development, climate change, and technology. Through practical examples, such as rural women’s limited control over financial resources despite having access to microfinance, the session emphasized how robust gender analysis is essential to identify structural barriers, inform project design, and ensure equitable impact.

The session also introduced the concept of intersectionality, recognizing that factors such as age, disability, geography, and social status create layered forms of exclusion. Shatha illustrated how meaningful gender analysis must rely on both sex-disaggregated quantitative data and qualitative insights to uncover hidden barriers, such as women’s limited mobility or safety concerns that affect participation in public life. Participants were reminded that gender analysis is not a one-off requirement but a continuous process that informs every stage of the programme cycle—from situation assessment and stakeholder consultation to monitoring and evaluation.

On the second day, the workshop transitioned to the Gender Marker, a key planning and monitoring tool used across the UN system to guide gender-responsive design and track financial investments toward gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). Drawing on UNDP’s global guidance, the session explained how the Gender Marker enables project teams to track budgets and expenditures, monitor trends across sectors, and improve decision-making and accountability on gender equality commitments. Participants learned about the four-tier scoring system: GEN0 for gender-blind outputs; GEN1 for outputs with limited gender components; GEN2 for outputs with significant, mainstreamed gender integration; and GEN3 for outputs with gender equality as their principal objective.

The workshop concluded with actionable recommendations. Teams were encouraged to review ongoing projects for gender gaps, identify “quick wins” to improve gender integration, and collaborate closely with gender specialists when designing new initiatives. It was agreed that outputs should be regularly reviewed to improve their gender marker ratings, with a long-term goal of moving from GEN1 to GEN2 and GEN3 wherever possible. 

This two-day workshop reinforced that gender mainstreaming is not an isolated requirement but a core approach to achieving equitable, sustainable development outcomes. By combining strong Gender Analysis with systematic use of the Gender Marker, UNDP Saudi Arabia can ensure that its programming not only complies with corporate standards but also contributes meaningfully to transforming gendered power relations and advancing inclusive growth in the Kingdom.